regan lane: icu in dandylions. review by Alan Haber. buhdge

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ICU in Dandylions BrokenNess (Regan Lane) (No Label Listed) (2002) If you do a Google search for Beatlesque pop, the first hit you get is for Washington state musician Regan Lane. Upon hitting his homepage, you see that Lane bills himself as a "pure pop singer songwriter," and damn if that isn't the case. ICU in Dandylions is chock full of sunny, hooky melodies, but what sets it apart from other sunny, hooky pop albums is the often dark subject matter, and Lane's keen ability to come up positive in the end. The baker's dozen songs on ICU in Dandylions, buoyed by Lane's powerful, expressive vocals, present a talented artist, steeped in the traditions of sixties and seventies pop, who bounced back from drug addiction and a less-than-rosy personal life to greet the here and now and future with boundless optimism and enthusiasm. ICU in Dandylions is that rarest of albums: thoughtful and perceptive on one level, and joyous and overwhelmingly positive on another. Through it all, you will be treated to one of the most incredibly talented, heretofore overlooked and under appreciated artists working in music today. The Rubber Soul-esque opener, "Mr. Indecision," presents a man unsure of how to negotiate the world, wanting to do the right thing, but unable somehow to set off on his way. "I Feel Bad" keeps the mid-period Beatles groove going while telling the story of one man's personal undoing. "Junkie," featuring a deliciously catchy chorus with great harmony backgrounds, and the bluesy Rembrants-meets-the Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" "Selfish Sadness" find him taking stock of his situation. And "Grain of Sand," with its wonderful, harmony-filled mid section, points the way to a bright future when the man becomes a father and is transcended by the experience. The title song, a gorgeous ballad with an Elizabethan tinge, is a love letter to the love of Lane's life, his daughter Moyra, to whom the album is dedicated. It is a song of hope, and it is an instant classic, beautifully arranged, played and sung. The entire album is beautifully arranged, played and sung. Pop sense this keen and inspirational doesn't deserve to remain unnoticed outside of Lane's home turf. You can choose to get deep into the lyrics, for an emotional experience, or simply enjoy the masterfully-crafted music. Either way, *ICU in Dandylions* is a tremendous achievement, a pure pop album with wit and heart and soul. Don't let this one slip away. Sound Samples: "ICU in Dandylions" "Mr. Indecision" (Both from "ICU in Dandylions") Alan Haber buhdge September 11, 2004
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ICU in Dandylions
BrokenNess (Regan Lane)
(No Label Listed) (2002)

Regan Lane's ICU in Dandylions If you do a Google search for Beatlesque pop, the first hit you get is for Washington state musician Regan Lane. Upon hitting his homepage, you see that Lane bills himself as a "pure pop singer songwriter," and damn if that isn't the case. ICU in Dandylions is chock full of sunny, hooky melodies, but what sets it apart from other sunny, hooky pop albums is the often dark subject matter, and Lane's keen ability to come up positive in the end.

The baker's dozen songs on ICU in Dandylions, buoyed by Lane's powerful, expressive vocals, present a talented artist, steeped in the traditions of sixties and seventies pop, who bounced back from drug addiction and a less-than-rosy personal life to greet the here and now and future with boundless optimism and enthusiasm. ICU in Dandylions is that rarest of albums: thoughtful and perceptive on one level, and joyous and overwhelmingly positive on another. Through it all, you will be treated to one of the most incredibly talented, heretofore overlooked and under appreciated artists working in music today.

The Rubber Soul-esque opener, "Mr. Indecision," presents a man unsure of how to negotiate the world, wanting to do the right thing, but unable somehow to set off on his way. "I Feel Bad" keeps the mid-period Beatles groove going while telling the story of one man's personal undoing. "Junkie," featuring a deliciously catchy chorus with great harmony backgrounds, and the bluesy Rembrants-meets-the Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" "Selfish Sadness" find him taking stock of his situation. And "Grain of Sand," with its wonderful, harmony-filled mid section, points the way to a bright future when the man becomes a father and is transcended by the experience.

The title song, a gorgeous ballad with an Elizabethan tinge, is a love letter to the love of Lane's life, his daughter Moyra, to whom the album is dedicated. It is a song of hope, and it is an instant classic, beautifully arranged, played and sung.

The entire album is beautifully arranged, played and sung. Pop sense this keen and inspirational doesn't deserve to remain unnoticed outside of Lane's home turf. You can choose to get deep into the lyrics, for an emotional experience, or simply enjoy the masterfully-crafted music. Either way, ICU in Dandylions is a tremendous achievement, a pure pop album with wit and heart and soul.

Don't let this one slip away.

Sound Samples:

"ICU in Dandylions"
"Mr. Indecision"
(Both from "ICU in Dandylions")

Alan Haber
buhdge
September 11, 2004